Walter hamilton



(No Model.)-

W. HAMILTON.

METAL EXTRAGTING APPARATUS.

Patented Feb. 3, 1885.

INVENTOR:

AT'TEST:

N. PETEHS, Fimln-Lnhogmphnr. \Mvmnglon. D c

\VALTER HAMILTON, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE ACME MINING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

METAL-EXTRACTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,7d9, dated February 3, 1885.

Application fi'cd April 30, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom zit may concern:

Be it known that I, WVA. .TER HAMILTON, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and use ful Improvement in llIetal-Extracting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the extracting of metals from their ores by the lead-bath process-that is, by immersing the crushed orein a bath of melted lead, with which the metal contained in the ore combines; and itconsists in an improved device for feeding the ore down into the lead, and also in improved means for carrying the ore through the lead in such manner that it will be completely distributed during its passage, and every portion of it will be exposed to the action of the lead, while it is never exposed to the atmosphere.

The feeding device which I have devised consists of a rocking plate pivoted beneath the lead, whose end extends above the surface of the lead into a mass of ore there placed. The plate rocks down into the lead, carrying a portion of the ore with it. As soon as it passes a horizontal position the ore begins to rise and spreads itself upward along the surface of the plate, and when the lowest position is reached all the ore will ascend, and the plate rocks back to its former position to bring down another supply of ore. This rocking plate may be used as a feeder to deliver the ore to any kind of distributing devices; or it may be of such length that when its feeding end is down its other end will extend up to the surface, it being in this case pivoted in the middle. The material will then rise along the plate to the surface and be discharged. In some cases this single immersion will be sufficient. I prefer, however, to use this rocking'plate feeder in connection with a series of rocking plates similar to it, but shorter, so that they do not rise above the lead-line, and rocking alternatelythat is, one being up when the next is down, and so on. Any desired number of plates may be used. Sometimes only one maybe used in connection with the feeder-plate; but I usually prefer to use more. WVhen the ore leaves the feeding-plate, it rises against the next plate, which carries it down again. It rises in a similar manner against the next plate, is again carried down,

and so on tp the end of the series, the last plate having an extended portion reaching above the surface to guide the refuse material to the discharge. This furnishes a series of distributing devices which carry the material from one end of the kettle to the other, working it through the lead, so that it is well distributed without ever raising it or allowing it to rise above the surface so that it is exposed to the atmosphere, wherein it differs from previous devices of the same general character, in none of'which has the material ever been carried along from one end of a kettle to the other and completely submerged during its entire passage.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a lead-bath apparatus embodying the preferred form of my invention; Fig. 2, a transverse section of a kettle, with one of the rocking distributing-plates in elevation Fig. 3, a longitudinal section showing the form in which only one rocking plate is employed; Fig. 4, a view of the same, being a transverse section of the kettle with the single rocking plate, and Fig. 5 a plan view of the same.

Referring, first, to Figs. 1 and 2, A is a kettle of suitable size, containing molten lead. The surface of the lead is indicated by dotted line a a.

B is the rocking feeding-plate, its highest position being in dotted lines and its lowest in full lines. The crushed ore is introduced in any suitable manner at the end 0 of thekettle, and rests upon the surface of th lead. Plate B is curved at b, as shown, so that it forms a scoop, and as it moves down it carries with it a portion of the ore. It is evident that as soon as it passes a horizontal position the material beneath it will begin to rise, and will spread itself along the plate, and when it reaches its lowest point it will all rise from the plate. The movement of the ore is indicated by the arrows. It will. be readily seen that the ore would thus rise to any distributing device which may be placed in position to receive it, or directly to the surface, ifso desired. As shown, however, it rises against the first of the curved rocking plates B, which rocks down while plate B is rocking up again, carrying the ore down and causing it to distribute itself as before, and then allowing it to rise again against l to rise, and thus forwarding it toward the disthe next plate B, and so on. The last plate has an extended portion, D, reaching above the lead, and the material rises along this part to the discharge-opening E.

The feeding and distributing devices are supported as follows: A frame, F, rests on the sides of the kettle having side walls, G, extending down into the lead, and cross-partitions Hone for each roeking-plateextending across between said walls. Each rocking plate is pivoted between projections c c at the lower end of one of the partitions. Motion is communicated to the rocking plates by means of rods I I, attached to lugs d (1 upon the edges of the plates, such rods being connected wit-h any suitable source of power so as to move alternately. The space between the two end partitions may be filled with charcoal to prevent the oxidation of the lead. The accumulations of ore and of refuse perform this office at the ends of the kettle.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, K is a rocking plate pivoted at its middle, which is supported and to which motion is communicated in the same manner as already described. This plate has side ribs, 6 c, and is curved at b like plates B and B, so that it forms a scoop closed at its sides. The plates B and B above described may have similar side ribs, if desired. The inner surface of this plate is riffled, as shown. Its rear end extends above the lead-line when its forward or feeding end is down. The ore is carried down at one end by this plate and rises along it, the riffles as sisting in distributing it until it reaches the discharge E.

\Vhile I have described and prefer to use the devices hereinbefore set forth in connection with the lead process, it is evident thatthey are also applicable to a mercury process of amalgamation.

I am aware of Victorian patent of Felton, dated November 3, 1865, in which an oscillating muller is used to stamp or press the ore down into the mercury. This, however, is distinct from my invention of a rocking plate carrying the ore down and then permitting it charge.

WVhat I claim is 1. In extracting apparatus of the character described, a feeding device consisting of a rocking plate which carries the material to the bottom of the kettle and then allowsit to rise, substantially as set forth.

2. Inextracting apparatus of the character described, the combination, with the kettle, of a rocking plate carrying the material to the bottom of the kettle, and distributing devices to which the material rises from said rocking plate, substantially as set forth.

3. In extracting apparatus of the character described, the combination, with the kettle, of a series of alternately rocking plates for carrying the material from one end of the kettle to the other, substantially as set forth.'

4. In extracting apparatus of the character described, the combination, with the kettle, of a series of alternately rocking plates, the

first having its forward end extending above the surface, the last having its rearward end extending above the-surface,and the intermediate plates entirely submerged, substantiall y as set forth.

5. Aroeking plate for the purpose described, having a curved end, substantially as set forth.

6. The rocking plate having a curved end and side ribs, substantially as set forth.

7. The rocking plate for the purpose mentioned, curved atone end, and having its other end extended so as to reach above the surface of the liquid, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the kettle, of the partitions extending down into it and supporting the'rocking plates, substantially as set forth.

9. The rocking plate for the purpose mentioned, having a riffled surface, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 25th day of April, 188-1.

WALTER HAMILTON. 'Witnesses:

JULIUs L. HORNIG, WM. H. GoonwIN. 

